Soldier hurt in Occidental Mindoro clash

CITY OF CALAPAN — A soldier was wounded in an encounter with suspected members of the New People’s Army (NPA) in Sta. Cruz town in Occidental Mindoro province Wednesday morning, police said.

Supt. Imelda Tolentino, information officer of Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) police, said a platoon from the Philippine Army’s 76th Infantry Battalion under the 2nd Infantry Division was conducting combat patrol operation in Sitio Ranaw in Barangay Barahan when they were fired upon by about 20 rebels at around 11 a.m.

The government troops retaliated and engaged the rebels in a 15-minute firefight where the soldier, identified only as Corporal Sapon, was wounded.

Tolentino said the military has yet to determine the casualties from the side of the rebels.

Chief Supt. Emmanuel Luis Licup, Mimaropa police chief, ordered the conduct of checkpoint and chokepoint operations in all  police stations nearby and even in nearby provinces.  /ee